Happy Homemaker Monday

 

I hope your July 4th was an enjoyable holiday.  We spent it by ourselves.   One weekend night we were able to watch fireworks from our front porch at night, and there were about 5-6 different towns or people setting them off (one was spectacular).  

The break in rain finally gave us (I mean "me") a chance to weed the garden, re-tie up the tomatoes (they grew another foot), hill potatoes, harvest some Red Russian Kale and more radishes.  Boy it's still hot here. Sunday it was 94°F with a heat index of (feels like) 97°F (not as hot as it has been).

My homemade bug spray is working great other than it does not work to deter the teeny tiny gnat type bugs flying around.  They seem to be attracted to the body sweat while working in the hot sun (so annoying).

There is not enough work being done in the gardens, in one day, due to the heat, the humidity, the rain, or a combination of these issues.

Overwhelmed.  Frustrated.  Those are few words to describe the current season here (everyone in the area with any type of garden is dealing with it).  I get negative feedback from my full-time working husband, who thinks the garden should be spic-n-span weed free on a constant basis.  In this heat, a person has to be smart, and just show up when you can.

Despite being haggled about what's not getting done (cut me some slack please), I have harvested more kale and radishes, and hopefully more soon.

In the meantime, the rabbits have dug under the garden fence (rabbit dinner?  Get a dog?  Maybe 4? And a donkey?).  On a good note, we have not seen one ground hog in the last few weeks.  Or a deer for that matter.

It's definitely been a week of weeding, and more to do.  I am tired.

The suggestion to plant rosemary and borage in the squash plants, has been questionable.  One day I saw squash bugs, and then weeded out the borage and rosemary plants.  The next day I saw zero.  Not sure if the plants aroma could spread easier after being unburied in the weeds or not.  Time will tell as I check daily.

I also planted collards next to the thyme and green onions (again to deter the bugs).  Something ate it to the ground.  No collards this year.

Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

Will link up when she posts.

The weather . . . 

Hot. Rain is back after a week of drying up.  Possibly rain every other day or so this week.  Say a prayer for my sanity vs. weeds (ha ha!).

As I look outside my window . . .

Sun is coming up and the rain is giving us a break.

Right now I am . . .

Writing this post of course.

Something fun to share . . .

I have zero today.

Thinking and pondering. . . 

What crazy person thought it would be a great idea to plant a garden this year????

On my bedside table . . .

I have no idea.  I'm too lazy (tired) to go look.

On my reading pile . . .

Finally off my "bucket" list (I don't really have one).  Another "first" this year - read a real, paper copy of the New York Times.   I won't be subscribing to it, ha ha!  I can read the digital copies for free with my library (for the recipes only).

I forgot to take a photo of my current book, but if you scroll down to the "what are you creating" prompt, you'll see all the latest books I have finished, and matching book blanket granny squares (yes, I'm behind in attaching some, but caught up with making them).

On my TV . . .

Literally, whatever looks interesting.  We liked Miracles from Heaven (movie on Netflix).

Listening to . . .

Nothing.  Hum of the white noise around here.  Some days the radio if I am actually cooking after a long garden day. Depends on where I am and what I'm/we are doing.

On the menu this week . . . 

-ice cream cones? ha ha ha!

-have no idea, we do have more stuffed bell peppers in the freezer however

On my to do list . . .

-garden work 

-anything after that is pure chance (literally), you know like overdue errands, housework, food preserving, making hand lotion and so forth.

-dehydrate more oregano when the rain stops again

-start oregano infused oil (by the way this is fantastic for cooking anything you love oregano in, not just medicinal).

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting, or creating . . .

ebook

. . .from the box of 18 something Christmas books I bought early in the year at an antique store (gulp!).

My first "blind" date with a book from a coffee store/bookshop.

Bought this several years ago at a flea market in Amish country.  Put it on a shelf and forgot I had it until last winter.  I loved this book, and looked forward to reading one every morning.

Most recent books finished with a matching granny square for my crocheted "book" blanket this year.  Matched the yarn the best I could, and with all yarn from my stash (it was the point to use up small balls in the stash).

I'm still crocheting the pink and white baby blanket (slow going).

My simple pleasure . . .

Lately?  Reading a book. Writing my blog.  Simply resting, ha ha!

Looking around the house . . .

Well, it's as it should look, when the garden work calls.

From the camera . . .

New current blooms (Rose of Sharon), and one about to bloom (forgot what it's called). I think the blue one may be called balloon flowers.  Our bluebells that I dug up and moved from our last home, lived about 16 years, then died off (never found them again).

Bible Verse, Prayer, Devotional . . .

"God, bring me friends who love You so we can encourage one another!  In Jesus's name.  Amen." (from 180 Devotions for Your Best Day)

Happy Homemaker Monday ©  July 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

This and That

 

Thankful for the rain that arrived right after I finished planting the garden last week.  I have new garden goodies to try this year, and I have ordered a new item to start in pots (more on that later).

Our AC units are not installed yet.  We have not had anyone to help do that, and one person we reached out to, has not responded.

It's been nice to get back on track again.  It's been nice to "catch my breath" so to speak.

  The house needed a tidy up, I returned my library books, ran errands, and most of all cleaned up clutter.  The refrigerator got a good cleaning (needs a bit more cleaned).   The chicken coop mucked.

I updated the garden journal, made notes, and have made notes for next year as well.  We bought some of our garden plants this year, so I'm saving all the containers and trays.  I plan to use them for seed starting for next year (unless plans change by then).

Harvested:

-chickweed 

-fresh chive blossoms  

-green onions 

-garlic scapes  (have more to cut in a few days)

-wild growing wood sorrel 

Planted:

-onions

-shallots

-more rosemary

-borage

-more dill

-marjoram

-bunching onions

Apparently, we will be putting up some game cameras to see who, or what dog has been coming onto our property.  It's not a coyote and not a fox.  The deer are coming around more often too, so I will need to take measures to deter that as well.  There may be dogs, and maybe even a donkey added to the homestead yet.

Finished these crocheted water balloons in May.

They were gifted.

(another book blanket granny square)

Finished this book in May, and I was certain, I had read it before, but I don't have it listed in my book journal.  I am still sure I borrowed it from the library years ago.  The back of the book contains recipes and craft instructions.  

It was the most difficult (boring) book to finish, because we have already experienced raising chickens, and raising dairy goats.  We experienced hand milking LaMancha goats, making soap and cheeses etc.  We have never had sheep or a milk cow, but it was one of those books you read before you do all these things.  I had picked it up somewhere, and is a used library book, but it's read, and off the shelf (woot!).  It's being passed on, and out of the house.

. . . and another book finished (this month) and another granny square for the book blanket.  Very interesting book, the end was quite a surprise.

. . .finished this ebook from the library.  It was a random pick.  I liked it. It's hard to see the yarn colors, due to having to make a collage photo with the ebook photo and my granny square, but I think it matches very well.  There were recipes at the end of this book, and no, I will not be trying any of them.

. . . another baby blanket in the making. I have a person in line for this one too.

Food for thought. . .

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

Hebrews 13:2

This and That  ©  June 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart